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Don’t go telling Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell Friday’s exhibition game against the B.C. Lions is a meaningless exercise with the goal of staying healthy for the regular season.

For the identity of the Calgary Stampeders quarterback will likely be decided on the artificial turf at BC Place Stadium against the guys in orange.

When healthy, Tate, 29, is a proven starter penchant with a reputation for pulling out wins under fire. Mitchell, 24, is considered the franchise quarterback of the future — with the only question being whether the future starts now.

May the best man win.

“There are no leanings for me,” assistant head coach/offensive co-ordinator Dave Dickenson said after Tuesday’s practice. “We were very up front with the guys that this is an open competition.”

An open competition with a small sample size of game film from last Saturday’s 23-20 pre-season victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Mitchell went 8-of-11 for 76 yards. Drew Tate completed 2-of-5 passes for 28 yards and carried the ball twice for 15 yards and a major.

Both field generals engineered first-quarter touchdown drives. Both are solid options to start in Week 1 against the Montreal Alouettes.

“Drew’s had the best camp I’ve seen him have,” Dickenson said. “Now, we have to make sure we keep him feeling confident in his arm.”

Before camp opened, Tate said he doesn’t expect his troublesome right throwing arm to be at 100 per cent all season long — although he appears to have found ways to compensate.

“He’s a great leader and a great field general out there,” Dickenson said. “Does some great things moving in and out of the pocket. Understands our offence. Has made more vertical throws this year than ever.

“So what I’d like to see out of him, though, is a little more consistency on certain reads. That’s got to do with my coaching, so I have to pick that up.”

During camp, Tate and Mitchell took turns outshining one another. One day it was Tate. The next, Mitchell. And on and on it went.

“Bo, I want him to protect the ball a little more,” Dickenson said. “I think Bo sometimes gets a little reckless with the ball. The last week or so at practice, he’s been lot better. And when you ask him to do something, he does it.

“That’s the type of guy you want around. That’s the type of guy you know you can win with.”

Chances are, the Stamps can win with either guy. Chances are, both will start at some point this season.

“There’s always things you can improve on,” Mitchell said after reviewing the video evidence of his work against Winnipeg. “There were good plays and bad plays, but there are definitely things I can fix out there. I’ll make sure I improve on those this game.”

Tate echoed those sentiments.

“I’m feeling really good,” he said. “I think there’s a lot we can build on from that first game. We’re going to need to match our energy that we had at the start there. I thought we moved the ball well. But it’s going to be a different task against B.C. The Lions are a lot different than Winnipeg.

“Personally, I’ve just got to clean it up a little bit. I need to be sharper and quicker on the looks and throws.”

Mitchell and Tate know exactly what’s on the line. They don’t need a reminder.

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